JPH11151836A - Print controlling system and print controlling method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a quantity of printing data transferred from a computer to a printer by providing a compression part for compressing printing date produced on the basis of set compression information and restoration part for restoring compressed printing data on the basis of compression data. SOLUTION: The print driver 12 is prepared with a compression/scaling part 13, and the compression/scaling part 13 carries out at the same time a compression process for compressing printing data in accordance with a set compression ratio CR and a scaling process for scaling the printing data in accordance with the scaling ratio SR set relative to the printing data. In addition, a printer P1 operates to restore printing data transferred from a host computer C1 In accordance with a reciprocal number of the compression ratio, and the printing data produced in the computer C1 is printed by the printer P1. In this manner, a quantity of data transferred from the computer can be reduced, and a speed of printing can be highly accelerated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a print control system and a print control method, and more particularly to a print control system and a print control method for printing print data transferred from a host computer to a printer by the printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, print data generated by a host computer is printed by a printer connected to the host computer. The print data is generated by application software (AP) installed in the host computer and transferred to a printer. Then, when the operator inputs a print start command, the printer outputs print data.

[0003] In order to print the print data generated by the host computer with a printer, the following three methods are required.
One process (color conversion process, scaling process, gradation conversion process) must be shared and executed by the host computer and the printer.

[0004] First, from RGB (Red Green Blue) to C
It is necessary to perform a color conversion process for converting to MYK (Cyan Magenta Yellow blacK) or CMY. Because print data processed by the host computer is displayed on a display connected to the host computer, the print data is expressed based on the three primary colors of RGB. On the other hand, print data to be printed by a printer is expressed in CMYK or CMY since printing ink is used. Therefore, when printing print data generated by a computer with a printer, color conversion processing of the print data must be performed.

[0005] Second, it is necessary to perform a scaling process for reducing or expanding (scaling) the size of the original print data. This is because the size of the original print data is a size corresponding to the display size of the display screen, that is, a size (for example, 800 × 600 pixels, 1024 × 76 pixels) at which an image can be displayed without being reduced or enlarged on the screen.
8 pixels). As described above, since the size of the original print data is a size corresponding to the display size on the screen, it must be changed to a size suitable for printing by the printer. Therefore, the size of the original print data must be reduced or scaled (scalable) according to the display size on the screen or the like.

Third, it is necessary to perform a gradation conversion process for converting multi-gradation print data generated by a host computer into print data having a number of gradations printable by a printer.
This is because, with recent technological advances, and in order to obtain good image quality, print data generated by the host computer has multiple gradations (for example, 256 gradations for each color, that is, about 16.770,000 colors). Has been adopted. On the other hand, the gradation expression power of the printer, that is, the number of gradations that can be printed by the printer differs depending on the printer model. For example, generally, printers in which the number of printable gradations is binary are widely used. On the other hand, recently, in order to obtain a print expression with higher quality and closer to a natural image, a printer in which the number of printable gradations is four or eight is also being used. Thus, the number of gradations of the print data on the host computer side and the number of printable gradations on the printer side are different. For this reason, in order to express the multi-gradation data as the original print data by the number of gradations (for example, binary, quaternary, octal) that can be printed by the printer, the dither diffusion method (error diffusion method ) Needs to be performed.

[0007] Recently, as the print quality of a printer has been greatly improved, the amount of print data transferred from the host computer to the printer has tended to increase significantly. The following three points can be cited as factors that increase the amount of print data.

First, recent printers are capable of expressing print data at a higher print resolution than conventional printers. Accordingly, the amount of print data increases. For example, in a laser printer, 600 dpi (dots
per inch) is the standard specification.

Second, printers have conventionally represented print data in a low number of gradations (eg, binary). Recently, however, printers have been able to represent print data in multiple gradations. . Accordingly, the amount of print data increases. For example, 1
Laser printers capable of expressing quaternary, octal, and the like for dots have become widespread. However, such a laser printer increases the amount of print data by four or eight times.

Third, color printing has recently been widely introduced. Color printing handles a larger amount of print data than monochrome printing. For example, color printing deals with triple (CMY) or quadruple (CMYK) data volume compared to monochrome printing.

Such an increase in the amount of print data is particularly serious when print data is transferred between devices. For example, even if the engine performance of the printer and the CPU performance of the host computer and the CPU of the printer controller are improved, when the data amount increases, the spool time in the host computer, the Centronics interface and the LAN
(Local Area Network), etc., and the specific gravity of the overhead, such as the data transfer time between each processing (color conversion processing, scaling processing, pseudo gradation processing, etc.), becomes larger than the entire printing processing time. . For this reason, the printing speed decreases.

Next, a conventional printing system will be described. FIG. 14 is a configuration diagram showing a conventional printing system. This printing system includes a computer 1 and a printer 2
It is composed of

The computer 1 has application software (hereinafter referred to as “AP”) 3 for realizing various purposes such as creating a document, creating an image, and performing a spreadsheet, and responding to a print request sent from the AP 3. And a printer driver 4 for controlling the printer 2.

The printer driver 4 includes a scaling unit 5 for scaling print data in accordance with scaling information (enlargement / reduction information) set based on a print data size and a print image size, and a color conversion unit 6 for performing color conversion processing. And The printer 2 includes a gradation conversion unit 7 that performs a gradation conversion process, and a bitmap development unit 8 that develops a bitmap image for printing based on a drawing command.

According to the printing system configured as described above, the host computer 1 creates print data using the AP 3. Then, the generated print data is
The scaling data is scaled based on the print data size by the scaling unit 5, and the scaled print data is color-converted from RGB to CMYK by the color conversion unit 6.

The color-converted print data is transferred to the printer 2. The color-converted print data is gradation-converted by the gradation changing unit 7 from the number of gradations corresponding to the host computer 1 to the number of gradations corresponding to the printer 2. , Is developed into a bitmap for printing by the bitmap developing unit 8. Thus, the print data generated by the host computer 1 is printed by the printer 2.

In the printing system shown in FIG. 14, since the printer 2 is provided with the gradation conversion section 7, print data that has not been subjected to gradation conversion is transferred from the host computer 1 to the printer 2.

In general, the gradation that can be expressed by the printer 2 is lower than the gradation that can be expressed by the host computer 1. In this case, the gradation changing unit 7 converts high gradation print data (bitmap data) into low gradation print data (bitmap data). Therefore, the gradation conversion unit 7
Is provided in the printer 2, high-gradation print data is transferred from the host computer 1 to the printer 2.

Accordingly, there is a problem that the amount of print data transferred from the computer 1 to the printer 2 increases, and the printing speed decreases. In order to reduce the amount of transferred print data, a printing system that performs a gradation conversion process on the host computer side is also used.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a printing system for performing the gradation conversion processing on the host computer side. This printing system includes a host computer 1 'in which an AP 3 and a printer driver 4' are installed, and a printer 2 '.

The printer driver 4 ′ includes a gradation conversion section 7 ′ in addition to the scaling section 5 and the color conversion section 6. The printer 2 'includes a bitmap developing unit 8.

According to the printing system configured as described above, the host computer 1 creates print data using the AP 3. Then, the generated print data is
The scaling section 5 scales the print data based on the scaling ratio, and the scaled print data is color-converted from RGB to CMYK by the color conversion section 6. Thereafter, the color-converted print data is converted by the gradation changing unit 7 'from the gradation corresponding to the host computer 1' to the gradation corresponding to the printer 2.

The print data subjected to the gradation conversion is transferred to the printer 2 and developed by the bitmap developing unit 8 into bitmap data for printing. Thus, in the host computer 1 ', the print data is subjected to gradation conversion. Generally, since print data is converted from high gradation to low gradation, the host computer 1 ′ transmits the print data to the printer 2 ′.
Is reduced. Therefore, the printing speed is higher than in the printing system shown in the figure.

However, the scaling section 5 is provided in the host computer 1 '. Therefore, regardless of the print data of any scaling ratio, the print data is stored in the scaling unit 5 of the host computer 1 '.
And then transferred to the printer 2 '. Therefore, even print data with a large scaling ratio (large enlargement ratio) is enlarged by the computer 1 'and then transferred to the printer 2', so that the amount of transferred data increases and the printing speed decreases. There are cases.

[0025]

As described above, since the conventional printing system cannot sufficiently reduce the amount of print data transferred from the computer to the printer, it cannot perform efficient printing processing. There's a problem.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a printing system capable of performing efficient printing processing by reducing the amount of print data transferred from a computer to a printer.

[0027]

The present invention employs the following means in order to solve the above-mentioned problems. That is,
A print control system according to the present invention includes an information processing apparatus that generates print data and a printing apparatus that prints print data transferred from the information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus includes a compression unit that compresses the generated print data based on compression information set for the generated print data. The printing apparatus includes a restoration unit that restores the compressed print data based on the compression information.

According to the print control system of the present invention, the compressed print data is transferred from the information processing device to the printing device. Therefore, the amount of data transferred from the information processing device to the printing device can be reduced, and the printing speed can be increased.

Further, the information processing apparatus of the print control system of the present invention includes a color reduction section for thinning out the number of colors included in the generated print data. As a result, the print data with the reduced number of colors is transferred from the information processing apparatus to the printing apparatus.
Therefore, the amount of data transferred from the information processing device to the printing device can be reduced.

[0030] The information processing apparatus may include a compression unit that compresses the generated print data based on compression information set for the generated print data. Further, the printing apparatus may include a restoration unit that restores the compressed print data based on the compression ratio information.

A print control system according to the present invention includes an information processing apparatus for generating print data including a plurality of colors, and a printing apparatus for printing print data transferred from the information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus includes a compression unit that performs a compression process for compressing generated print data based on compression information set for generated print data, and reduces a color included in the generated print data. The image processing apparatus includes a color reduction unit that performs color reduction processing, and a selection unit that selects compression processing or color reduction processing on the generated print data based on an input selection signal. Further, the printing apparatus includes a restoration unit that restores the compressed print data based on the compression information.

According to this print control system, the generated print data is compressed or the colors included in the print data are thinned out (subtracted) based on the selection signal input by the operator. Then, the compressed print data or the decimated print data is transferred from the information processing apparatus to the printing apparatus. Thereafter, when the print data is compressed, the decompression unit decompresses the compressed print data.

Thus, the compressed print data or the print data in which the colors are thinned out are transferred from the information processing apparatus to the printing apparatus. Therefore, the amount of data transferred from the information processing device to the printing device can be reduced.

Further, the information processing apparatus is provided with a high-speed print selection unit for performing compression processing or color reduction processing when high-speed printing is requested. Thus, when the operator requests high-speed printing, compression processing or color reduction processing is performed on the generated print data.

Accordingly, the compressed or thinned-out print data is transferred from the information processing apparatus to the printing apparatus, so that the amount of transferred data can be efficiently reduced, thereby enabling high-speed printing. Become.

Further, the printing control apparatus of the present invention includes an information processing apparatus for generating print data and scaling information relating to a change in the size of the print data, and a printing apparatus for printing print data transferred from the information processing apparatus. I have. The information processing apparatus includes a scaling determining unit that determines whether the scaling information indicates enlargement or reduction of the print data, and, when the scaling information indicates reduction of the print data, changes the size of the print data based on the scaling information. A reduction unit for reducing the size. The printing apparatus includes an enlargement unit that enlarges the size of the print data based on the scaling information when the scaling information indicates enlargement of the print data.

This information processing apparatus may include a high-quality print selection unit that performs the above-described enlargement / reduction determination processing when high-quality printing is requested.

Further, the print control system of the present invention includes an information processing apparatus for generating print data represented by color numbers corresponding to a plurality of colors, and a printing apparatus for printing print data transferred from the information processing apparatus. Have. The information processing apparatus includes a color number changing unit that, when a plurality of color numbers indicate the same color among the plurality of colors, renumbers the plurality of color numbers indicating the same color with the same color number.

Further, the print control system of the present invention includes an information processing device for generating print data and a printing device for printing the print data generated by the information processing device. The information processing apparatus includes a data amount determination unit that compares the data amount of the generated print data with the data amount of the print data converted into a printable gradation by the printing device, and a data amount of the generated print data. If the data amount determination unit determines that the data amount of the pseudo print data is smaller than the pseudo print data, the pseudo print data obtained by converting the gradation of the generated print data is output, and the pseudo print data is output in a pseudo amount larger than the data amount of the generated print data. An output unit that outputs the generated print data when the data amount determination unit determines that the data amount of the print data is large.

[0040]

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating a printing system according to a first embodiment.

The printing system includes a host computer C1 for generating a full color bitmap as print data.
And a printer P1 for printing a bitmap developed in a page memory.

The host computer C1 has application software (AP) 1 for realizing various purposes such as creating a document, creating an image, and performing a spreadsheet.
1, and a printer driver 12 that controls the printer P1 in response to a print request sent from the AP 11 is installed.

The printer driver 12 includes a compression / scaling unit 13 and a color conversion unit 16. The compression / scaling unit 13 includes a compression ratio CR (for example,
1 / n) and a scaling process for scaling the print data according to the scaling ratio SR set for the print data are performed simultaneously. In practice, the product of the compression non-CR and the scaling ratio SR is calculated, and the print data is compressed and scaled according to the product. Further, the color conversion unit 16 converts the print data from RGB colors to CMYK colors.

The printer P1 includes a restoration unit 15, a gradation conversion unit 16, and a bitmap development unit 17. The restoration unit 15 restores the compressed print data in accordance with the reciprocal 1 / CR (for example, n times) of the compression ratio transferred to the printer P1 along with the compressed print data. The gradation conversion unit 16 converts print data of the number of gradations (full color bitmap) handled by the host computer C1 into print data (pseudo gradation bitmap) of the number of gradations handled by the printer P1. The bitmap developing unit 17 develops bitmap data for printing in a memory (not shown) based on the print data (pseudo gradation bitmap).

According to the printing system configured as described above, the print data is created by the AP 23 installed in the host computer C1. And
The compression / scaling unit 13 compresses / scales the generated print data according to the product of the compression ratio CR and the scaling ratio SR. Then, the color conversion unit 14 performs compression /
Converts scaled print data from RGB colors to CMYK
Convert to color.

The print data color-converted by the color conversion section 14 is transferred to the printer P1. Printer P1
Restores the print data transferred from the computer C1 according to the reciprocal 1 / CR (for example, n times) of the compression ratio. The tone conversion unit 16 converts the restored print data from print data of the number of tones handled by the computer C1 (full color bitmap) to print data of the number of tones corresponding to the printer P1 (pseudo tone bitmap). Convert. Then, the bitmap developing section 8 develops the tone-converted print data as bitmap data for printing in the memory.

The printer P1 outputs print data by a printing mechanism (not shown) based on the bitmap data expanded in the memory. Thus, the print data generated by the host computer C1 is printed by the printer P1.

According to the printing system of the first embodiment, print data compressed by the computer C1 is transferred to the printer P1. Therefore, the amount of data transferred from the computer C1 to the printer P1 is reduced.
The printing speed can be increased.

Second Embodiment FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a printing system according to a second embodiment. The printing system includes a host computer C2 that generates a full-color bitmap or an index bitmap as print data, and a printer P2 that prints a bitmap expanded in a memory.

The host computer C2 has application software (AP) 2 as in the first embodiment.
1 and a printer driver 22 are installed. The printer driver 22 includes a scaling unit 23,
Color reduction unit 24, index creation unit 25, and color conversion unit 2
6 is provided.

The scaling section 23 actually stores the printer P
In step 2, a scaling process is performed on the print data according to a scaling ratio set for printing the print data.

The color reduction unit 24 performs a process of thinning out the colors of the print data, that is, a color reduction process of converting a full color bitmap into a color bitmap in which the colors are reduced. For example, the color reduction section 24 has 256 gradations for each of RGB (up to 2 gradations).
The full color bitmap of 56 × 256 × 256 colors (16,770,000 colors) is reduced to 256 colors.

The index creation unit 25 converts the color bitmap with reduced colors into an index color bitmap. As shown in FIG. 3, the index bitmap includes a set of two pieces of color information composed of color signals in which gradation values are set for RGB and a color number corresponding to the color information.
It comprises a color pallet part CP defined for 56 sets, and a bit map part BM that uses the color number defined by the color pallet part CP as data of each pixel.

The color converter 26 converts the RGB index color bitmap into a CMYK index bitmap. The printer P2 includes a gradation conversion unit 27.
And a bitmap developing unit 28.

The tone converter 27 converts the print data (index color bitmap) of 256 colors converted by the color converter 26 into print data (pseudo tone bitmap) of the number of tones handled by the printer P2. I do.

The bitmap developing section 28 develops a printing bitmap in a memory (not shown) based on the print data (pseudo gradation bitmap) whose gradation has been converted.

According to the printing system configured as described above, print data is created by the AP 21. Then, the scaling unit 23 scales the generated print data to a size that is actually printed by the printer P2. Subsequently, the color reduction unit 24 converts the scaled print data from full color bitmap data to index bitmap data. The color conversion unit 26 converts the index bitmap data from RGB colors to CMY colors.
Convert to K color.

The print data (index bitmap data) color-converted by the color conversion unit 14 is transferred to the printer P2. Tone converter 27 of printer P2
Converts the print data (index bitmap data) transferred from the computer C2 to the printer P2 into print data (pseudo grayscale bitmap data) having the number of tones corresponding to the printer P1. Then, the bitmap developing unit 28 develops the tone-converted print data (pseudo-tone bitmap data) in a memory as bitmap data for printing.

The printer P1 outputs print data based on the bitmap data developed in the memory. Thus, the print data generated by the computer C2 is printed by the printer P2.

According to the printing system of the second embodiment, the print data reduced in color by the computer C2 is transferred to the printer P1. For example, when the index bitmap data is created by thinning the colors from full-color data of 16.770,000 colors of 256 colors and 256 colors to create 256-color data, the amount of full-color data and the amount of index bitmap data are respectively equal to the full-color data. Data amount = {R (1 byte) + G (1 byte) + B (1 byte)}
X number of pixels Index data amount = R (1 byte) + G (1 byte) + B (1 byt
e) It is expressed as｝ × 256 + palette number (1 byte) × number of pixels. In this manner, the data amount of bitmap data having a large number of pixels can be significantly reduced.

Accordingly, the printer P is sent from the computer C2.
Since the amount of data transferred to the printer 2 is reduced, high-speed printing becomes possible.

Third Embodiment FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a printing system according to a third embodiment. The third embodiment is a printing system having both the compression / scaling unit of the first embodiment and the color reduction unit of the second embodiment. The printing system includes: a host computer C3 that generates a full-color bitmap as print data;
Printer P that prints bitmaps expanded in memory
And 1.

The host computer C3 has application software (AP) 3 as in the above embodiment.
1 and a printer driver 32 are installed. The printer driver 32 includes the compression / scaling unit 3
3, a color reduction unit 34, an index creation unit 35, and a color conversion unit 36.

The compression / scaling unit 33 compresses print data in accordance with a compression ratio CR (for example, 1 / n) set by an operator, and in accordance with a scaling ratio SR set for the print data. And the scaling processing for scaling the print data.

The color reduction unit 34 performs a process of thinning out the colors of the print data, that is, a color reduction process of converting a full-color bitmap into a color bitmap with reduced colors. For example, the color reduction section 24 has 256 gradations for each of RGB (up to 2 gradations).
The full color bitmap of 56 × 256 × 256 colors (16,770,000 colors) is reduced to 256 colors.

The index creating section 35 converts the reduced color bitmap into an index color bitmap. As shown in FIG. 3, the index bitmap includes a set of two pieces of color information composed of color signals in which gradation values are set for RGB and a color number corresponding to the color information.
The color pallet CP includes a color pallet part CP defined for 56 sets, and a bit map part BM that stores color signals defined by the color pallet part CP for each pixel.

The color converter 36 converts the RGB color index bitmap into a CMYK color index bitmap. The printer P3 includes a restoration unit 37, a gradation conversion unit 38, and a bitmap development unit 39.

The restoration section 37 restores the compressed print data in accordance with the reciprocal 1 / CR (for example, n times) of the compression ratio. The gradation conversion unit 38 converts the print data (index bitmap) of 256 colors into print data (pseudo gradation bitmap) having the number of gradations handled by the printer P1. The bitmap developing section 39 develops bitmap data for printing in a memory (not shown) based on the print data (pseudo gradation bitmap).

According to the printing system configured as described above, the generated print data is compressed / scaled by the compression / scaling unit 13 according to the product of the compression ratio CR and the scaling ratio SR. Then, the compression-scaled print data is reduced in color from full color (16,770,000 colors) to 256 colors by the color reduction unit 34.

Therefore, according to the printing system of the third embodiment, the computer C3 compresses the print data to reduce the color, and then transfers the data to the printer P1. Accordingly, the amount of data transferred from the computer C3 to the printer P3 is further reduced as compared with the above embodiment, so that the printing speed can be further increased.

Fourth Embodiment FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a printing system according to a fourth embodiment. The printing system includes a computer C4 that generates a full-color bitmap, and a printer P4 that prints the bitmap expanded in the memory.
As in the above embodiment, application software (AP) 41 and a printer driver 42 are installed in the computer C4.

The printer driver 42 includes a printing method determination unit 43, a compression / scaling unit 44, a color reduction unit 45,
An index creation unit 46 and a color conversion unit 47 are provided.
The printing method setting unit 43 performs a compression printing method (hereinafter, referred to as a “route R1”) that performs a compression process on a full-color bitmap according to an operator setting in the AP 41.
A compression color reduction printing method (hereinafter, referred to as “route R2”) for performing compression processing and color reduction processing on a full color bitmap, and a color reduction printing method (hereinafter, referred to as “route R3”) performing color reduction processing for a full color bitmap. ) Is set.

When the route R1 or the route R2 is selected, the scaling unit 44 performs a compression process for compressing the print data according to a compression ratio CR (for example, 1 / n) set by the operator, and performs a compression process on the print data. And a scaling process for scaling the print data according to the scaling ratio SR set in the step S1. That is, the product of the compression ratio CR and the scaling SR is calculated, and the print data is compressed and scaled according to the product. In addition, when the route R3 is selected, the scaling unit 44 determines, according to the scaling ratio SR set for the print data,
Scale print data.

The color reduction section 45 includes a route R2 and a route R3.
, A process of thinning out the colors of the print data, that is, a color reduction process of converting a full-color bitmap into a color bitmap with reduced colors. For example, the color reduction unit 24
256 gradations each for RGB (maximum 256 × 256 × 25
6 full color bitmaps (16,770,000 colors)
The color is reduced to 56 colors.

The index creating unit 46 converts the color bitmaps with reduced colors into the index color bitmaps for the routes R2 and R3. As shown in FIG. 3, the index bitmap has a color palette CP in which 256 sets of color information composed of color signals in which gradation values are set to RGB and color numbers corresponding to the color information are defined. And a bitmap section BM that uses the color number defined by the color palette CP as data of each pixel (pixel).

The color converter 36 converts the RGB color bitmap into the CMYK color bitmap. Printer P
3 includes a restoration unit 48, a gradation conversion unit 49, and a bitmap development unit 50.

The restoring unit 48 restores the compressed print data based on the reciprocal 1 / CR (for example, n times) of the compression ratio. The gradation conversion unit 49 converts print data (full color bitmap or index bitmap) having the number of gradations handled by the computer C4 into print data (pseudo gradation bitmap) having the number of gradations handled by the printer P4.

The bitmap developing unit 50 determines the route R1
For R3, print bitmap data is developed in a memory (not shown) based on the print data (pseudo gradation bitmap).

According to the printing system configured as described above, the operator can select any one of the routes R1 to R3. When the operator selects route R1, the full color bitmap is compressed / scaled and then transferred from computer C4 to printer P4. For example, if the number of pixels and colors of the full-color bitmap is small, the amount of data transferred from the computer C4 to the printer P4 may not be effectively reduced even if the color reduction processing is performed. In such a case, when the operator selects the route R1, an efficient printing method can be selected.

When the operator selects the route R2, the full-color bitmap is further reduced in color after being compressed. Then, the compressed and reduced color bitmap is transferred from the computer C4 to the printer P4.

For example, when the number of pixels and the number of colors of the full-color bit map are large and printing is desired to be performed at higher speed,
The operator selects the route R2 and performs both compression processing and color reduction processing. Thus, the amount of data transferred from the computer C4 to the printer P4 can be effectively reduced.

When the operator selects the route R3, the full-color bitmap is reduced in color, and then the computer C4
Is transferred to the printer P4. For example, when the full-color bitmap has a large number of pixels and colors but does not want to degrade the bitmap data by compression, the operator selects the route R3 and performs the color reduction processing without performing the compression processing. In this way, the amount of data transferred from the computer C4 to the printer P4 can be reduced without deteriorating the bitmap data.

As described above, according to the printing system of the fourth embodiment, since the printing system setting unit 43 is provided, the operator performs compression processing on the full-color bitmap (route R1). Perform both of the color reduction processing (route R2) and perform the color reduction processing (route R3).
Can be selected.

Therefore, the transfer data amount can be efficiently reduced according to the number of pixels, the number of colors, the print quality, etc. of the full-color bitmap to be printed, so that the printing speed can be increased efficiently. Can be. Fifth Embodiment FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a printing system according to a fifth embodiment.

The printing system is composed of a computer C5 for generating a full-color bitmap and a printer P5 for printing the bitmap developed in the memory. As in the above embodiment, application software (AP) 51 and a printer driver 52 are installed in the computer C5.

The printer driver 52 includes an enlargement / reduction determining unit 53
, A reduction scaling section 54, a color conversion section 55, and a first gradation conversion section 56. The enlargement / reduction determining unit 53 selects the route R4 when the full-color bitmap is reduced and printed by the AP 51, and selects the route R5 when the full-color bitmap is enlarged and printed by the AP 51. I do.

When the route R4 is selected (when reduction printing is specified), the reduction scaling section 54 sets the scaling ratio (reduction ratio) set for the print data.
, The print data is reduced.

The color conversion section 55 has a route R4 and a route R
5 is converted from an RGB color bitmap to a CMYK color bitmap. The first gradation conversion unit 56 converts the number of gradations of the print data for which the route R4 is selected, that is, the number of gradations of the print data for which reduced printing is specified, to the number of gradations of the print data corresponding to the print P5.

The printer P5 includes an enlargement scaling unit 57, a second gradation conversion unit 58, and a bitmap development unit 59. When the route R5 is selected (when enlargement printing is designated), the enlargement scaling unit 57 reduces the print data based on the scaling ratio (enlargement ratio) set for the print data.

The second gradation converter 58 converts the print data (full color bitmap) of the number of gradations handled by the computer C4 into the print data (pseudo gradation bitmap) of the number of gradations handled by the printer P4 for the route R5. ).

The bitmap developing section 59 develops bitmap data for printing in a memory (not shown) for the routes R4 and R5 based on the print data (pseudo gradation bitmap).

According to the printing system configured as described above, when the reduced printing is designated by the AP 51, the route R4 is automatically selected. When the route R4 is selected, the reduction scaling unit 54 reduces the full color bitmap. Subsequently, the color conversion unit 55 converts the reduced full color bitmap from RGB colors to CMYK colors. Then, the first gradation conversion unit 56 converts the full color bitmap into a pseudo gradation bitmap.

Then, the pseudo gradation bit map is transferred from the computer C5 to the printer P5. Printer P
The bitmap developing unit 59 of 5 develops the transferred pseudo gradation bitmap into a memory as a printing bitmap.

On the other hand, when enlargement printing is designated by the AP 51, the route R5 is automatically selected. Route R
When 4 is selected, first, the color conversion section 55 converts the full color bitmap from RGB colors to CMYK colors.

Then, the full-color bitmap converted into CMYK colors is transferred from the computer C5 to the printer P5 together with enlargement information (enlargement ratio). Then, the enlargement scaling unit 57 of the printer P5 enlarges the transferred bitmap based on the enlargement information. continue,
The second gradation conversion unit 58 converts the enlarged full color bitmap into a pseudo gradation bitmap. Thereafter, the bitmap developing unit 59 develops the pseudo gradation bitmap in the memory as a printing bitmap.

As described above, when reduction printing is designated by the AP 51, the bit map is reduced and gradation-converted on the computer C5 side. On the other hand, when enlargement printing is designated by the AP 51, the bitmap is enlarged and gradation-converted on the printer P5 side. This makes it possible to reduce the amount of data transferred from the computer C5 to the printer P5 without deteriorating the bitmap.

Therefore, the transfer data amount can be efficiently reduced, and the printing speed can be efficiently increased.

Sixth Embodiment FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a printing system according to a sixth embodiment. The sixth embodiment is a printing system having both the printing method setting unit of the fourth embodiment and the enlargement / reduction determining unit of the fifth embodiment. The printing system includes a computer C6 that generates a full-color bitmap, and a printer P6 that prints the bitmap expanded in the memory.

As in the above embodiment, the application software (AP) 61 and the computer C 6
A printer driver 62 is installed. The printer driver 62 includes a high-speed / high-quality setting unit 63, a printing method setting unit 64, a scaling determination unit 65, a scaling unit 66, a color reduction unit 67, an index creation unit 68, a color conversion unit 69, And a one-tone conversion unit 70.

The high-speed / high-quality setting section 63 sets whether to print a full-color bitmap at high speed or high quality in accordance with the setting of the operator from the AP 61. The high-speed / high-quality setting unit 63 selects the routes R1 to R3 when high-quality printing is set, and selects high-speed printing when high-speed printing is set.
Select the routes R4 to R5.

When high quality printing is set (when the routes R1 to R3 are selected), the printing method setting unit 64
Depending on the setting of the operator in P41, a compression printing method (hereinafter, referred to as a compression printing method) that performs compression processing on a full-color bitmap
A color reduction printing method (hereinafter, referred to as “route R2”) that performs compression processing and color reduction processing on a full-color bitmap, and a color reduction printing method that performs color reduction processing on a full-color bitmap (hereinafter, referred to as “route R2”). Less than,
(Referred to as “route R3”).

The enlargement / reduction judging section 65 includes the high speed / high quality setting section 6
When high-speed printing is set in 3 and the AP51 sets reduction printing of the full-color bitmap, the root R4 is selected, and enlargement printing of the full-color bitmap is set by the AP51. Select route R5.

When the route R1 or the route R2 is selected, the scaling unit 66 sets the compression ratio C set by the operator.
A compression process of compressing print data according to R (for example, 1 / n) and a scaling process of scaling print data according to a scaling ratio SR set for the print data are performed simultaneously. The scaling unit 44
Scales the print data according to the scaling ratio SR set for the print data when the route R3 is selected. Further, when the route R4 is selected (when reduction printing is designated), the scaling unit 54 reduces the print data according to the scaling ratio (reduction ratio) set for the print data. When the route R5 is selected (when enlargement printing is designated), the print data is not processed by the scaling unit 66.

The color reduction section 67 performs a process of thinning out the number of colors of the print data, that is, a color reduction process of converting a full color bitmap into a color bitmap with reduced colors. For example, the color reduction section 24 has 256 gradations for each of RGB (up to 2 gradations).
The full color bitmap of 56 × 256 × 256 colors (16,770,000 colors) is reduced to 256 colors.

The index creation unit 68 converts the color bitmap with reduced colors into an index color bitmap. As shown in FIG. 3, the index bitmap includes a set of two pieces of color information composed of color signals in which gradation values are set for RGB and a color number corresponding to the color information.
The color pallet CP includes a color pallet part CP defined for 56 sets, and a bit map part BM that stores color signals defined by the color pallet part CP for each pixel.

The color conversion section 69 converts the print data from the RGB bitmap into the CMYK data for the routes R1 to R5.
Convert to color bitmap. The first gradation conversion unit 70
The bitmap of the number of tones of the print data for which the route R4 is selected, that is, the print data for which high-speed printing is specified and reduced printing is specified, is converted into a pseudo-tone bitmap of the number of tones corresponding to the print P6.

By the way, the printer P5 is provided with
1, a second gradation conversion unit 72, and a bitmap development unit 73
And When the routes R1 and R2 are selected (when the print data is compressed), the enlargement / reconstruction unit 71 restores the compressed print data to a reciprocal multiple (for example, n times) of the compression ratio. When the route R5 is selected (when enlargement printing is designated), the enlargement / reconstruction unit 71 enlarges the print data based on the scaling ratio (enlargement ratio) set for the print data.

The second gradation conversion section 58 includes the routes R1 to R5
Then, the print data of the number of gradations (full color bitmap) handled by the computer C6 is converted into the print data of the number of gradations handled by the printer P6 (pseudo gradation bitmap).

The bitmap developing section 59 develops the pseudo gradation bitmap data as bitmap data for printing in a memory (not shown). According to the printing system configured as described above, when high quality printing is set by the operator from the AP 61, the routes R1 to R3 are automatically set.
Is selected. In this case, when the compression printing method for performing the compression processing on the full-color bitmap is selected by the operator from the AP 61, the root R1 is selected, and the compression for performing the compression processing and the color reduction processing on the full-color bitmap is selected. When the subtractive color printing method is selected, the route R
When 2 is selected and the subtractive color printing method for performing the subtractive color process on the full color bitmap is selected, the route R3 is selected.

On the other hand, when high-speed printing is set by the operator's designation from the AP 61, the routes R4 to R5 are automatically selected. In this case, when the reduced printing is designated by the AP 51, the route R4 is automatically selected. On the other hand, when the enlarged print is designated by the AP 51,
The route R5 is automatically selected.

As described above, when the operator sets the high quality printing and the printing method from the AP 61, the high speed / high quality setting section 63 selects the routes R1 to R3 in accordance with the designation of the high quality printing. Then, the printing method setting unit 64 selects one of the routes R1 to R3 according to the specified printing method (compression printing, compression color reduction printing, color reduction printing). On the other hand, when the operator specifies high-speed printing from the AP 61,
The high-speed / high-quality setting unit 63 selects the routes R4 to R5 according to the designation of high-speed printing. Then, the scaling determination unit 65
The route R4 or the route R5 is selected by the enlargement / reduction designation by the AP 61.

As a result, one of the routes R1 to R5 is automatically selected by the operator specifying high quality / high speed printing or a printing method, and specifying the enlargement / reduction by the AP 61. , The transfer data amount can be efficiently reduced.

Therefore, the operator can specify high quality / high speed printing or a printing method, and can efficiently reduce the amount of transfer data, so that the printing speed can be increased efficiently. Can be.

Seventh Embodiment FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a printing system according to a seventh embodiment. The printing system includes: a computer C7 that generates an index color bitmap as print data;
Printer P that prints bitmaps expanded in memory
7 is comprised. As shown in FIG. 3, the index bitmap generated by the AP 81 defines 256 sets of color information composed of color signals in which gradation values are set for RGB and color numbers corresponding to the color information. And a bitmap section BM that uses the color number defined by the color palette section CP as data of each pixel.

The computer C7 has application software (AP) 81 and
A printer driver 82 is installed. The printer driver 82 includes a bit reduction unit 83, a scaling determination unit 84, a reduction scaling unit 85, a color conversion unit 86,
A first gradation conversion section 87.

When the index color bitmap generated by the AP 81 is represented by a smaller number of colors than 256 (for example, two colors or 16 colors), the bit reduction unit 83 sets the bit of the palette number of the index bitmap. Perform bit reduction processing to reduce the number.

When the AP 81 sets reduction printing of the index color bitmap, the enlargement / reduction determining unit 84 selects the route R6. On the other hand, when enlargement printing of the index color bitmap is set by the AP 81, the route R7 is selected.

When the route R6 is selected (when reduction printing is designated), the reduction scaling section 85 sets the scaling ratio (reduction ratio) set for the print data.
, The index color bitmap is reduced.

The color conversion section 86 has a route R6 and a route R
7 for the RGB color index bitmap.
Convert to MYK index bitmap. First
The gradation conversion unit 87 converts the number of gradations of the index bitmap that has selected the route R6, that is, the number of gradations of the index bitmap for which reduced printing is specified, to the number of gradations corresponding to the print P7.

The printer P7 includes an enlargement scaling section 88, a second gradation conversion section 89, and a bitmap development section 90. The enlargement scaling unit 57 calculates the route R
When 7 is selected (when enlargement printing is specified), the index bitmap is enlarged according to the scaling ratio (enlargement ratio) set for the index bitmap.

The second gradation conversion unit 89 converts the index color bitmap of the number of gradations handled by the computer C4 into a pseudo gradation bitmap of the number of gradations handled by the printer P4 for the route R7.

The bitmap developing section 59 develops a bitmap for printing in a memory (not shown) for the route R6 and the route R7 based on the pseudo gradation bitmap.

Next, a bit reduction process performed by the bit reduction section 83 will be described. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the bit reduction process. When data that can be represented by two colors or 16 colors is represented by a 256-bit index bitmap, a plurality of color numbers are given to colors having the same gradation for each of the RGB primary colors. May be. For example, as shown in FIG. 9A, the gradation of each primary color is “R =
It is assumed that a plurality of color numbers ID1 to IDn are given to colors set to “0, G = 256, B = 100”. In this case, the gradation of each primary color is “R = 0, G = 2
For all the colors set to "56, B = 100", the color number "ID1" is reassigned.

As described above, when the same color number is given to the same color, the index bitmap expressed by a small number of colors (two colors, 16 colors, etc.) can be expressed by a small number of colors. Furthermore, if the number of color numbers is small as described above, the number of bits representing the color number may be small.

For example, if the bitmap can be expressed in two colors, the palette number part PN of the index bitmap expressed in 256 colors shown in FIG.
1 can be converted to the pallet number part PN2 of the index bitmap represented by binary values shown in FIG. 9C. As a result, the palette number portion PN1 shown in FIG. 9B stores the color number (ID1) corresponding to each pixel.
To IDn) is represented by 1 byte, but the palette number portion PN2 shown in FIG. 9C can represent the color number (ID1) corresponding to each pixel by 1 bit. When the index bitmap shown in FIG. 9B is converted into the index bitmap shown in FIG. 9C, the data amount of the index bitmap can be reduced to about ８. That is, 9
The bitmap data shown in FIG. 9D can be converted into the bitmap data shown in FIG. 9E, so that the number of bits can be reduced.

Now, a printing process performed by the printing system according to the seventh embodiment will be described. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a printing process by this printing system. First,
In step S001, the AP 81 determines that 256 colors, 1
An index bitmap that can be expressed in six or two colors is created in full color (256 colors).

Then, the bit reduction section 83 performs the following processing from step S002 to step S006. In step S002, the bit reduction unit 83
The index bitmap created by AP81 is stored in 25
Whether it can be expressed in 6 colors or 16 colors,
Or, it is determined whether the image can be expressed in two colors.
If the bitmap is to be represented with 256 colors, the process proceeds to step S003. If the bitmap can be expressed in two colors, the process proceeds to step S0.
Proceed to 03. Then, when the bitmap can be represented by 16 colors, the process proceeds to step S005.

If it is determined that the bitmap can be expressed in two colors, in step S003, the bitmap reduction unit 83 determines, as described above, the 256 color numbers assigned to the 256 colors. For each of
It is associated with one of two color numbers (binary) given corresponding to the two colors. Then, only the color information of the two associated colors is left in the color palette CP.

In step S004, the binary index bitmap is recreated. Thus, when the index bitmap represented by 256 colors is represented by binary values, {R (8 bits) + G (8 bits) + B (8 bits)} × 256 colors + color number (8 bits) × number of pixels・ (256 colors) ｛R (8bit) + G (8bit) + B (8bit)｝ × 2colors + color number (1bit) × number of pixels ・ ・ ・ (2 colors) From 1 to 1 bit and the number of color information from 256 to 2
The data amount of the index bitmap can be reduced to about 1/8.

If it is determined in S002 that the bitmap can be expressed in 16 colors, the process proceeds to step S0.
At 05, as described above, the bitmap reduction unit 83 assigns, to each of the 256 color numbers assigned to 256 colors, 16 bits assigned to 16 colors.
Each color number (4 values) is associated. And
Only the color information of the 16 colors associated with the color palette C
Leave in P.

Then, in step S006, an index bitmap with four values is created again. As described above, when the index bitmap represented by 256 colors is represented by four values, {R (8 bits) + G (8 bits) + B (8 bits)} × 256 colors + color number (8 bits) × number of pixels・ (256 colors) ｛R (8bit) + G (8bit) + B (8bit)｝ × 16 colors + color number (4bit) × number of pixels ・ ・ ・ (16 colors) By reducing the number of color information from 256 to 2 bits and the number of color information from 256 to 2, the data amount of the index bitmap can be reduced to about 1/2.

When the process of step S004 or the process of step S006 is completed, or when it is determined in step S002 that the index bitmap is to be expressed in 256 colors, the process proceeds to step S007.
A determination is made as to whether the AP 81 has specified to enlarge or reduce the bitmap.
When the AP 81 specifies to enlarge the bitmap, the process proceeds to step S008. On the other hand, when the AP 81 specifies to reduce the bitmap, the process proceeds to step S011.

If it is determined that the AP 81 has designated to enlarge the bitmap, the route R7 shown in FIG. 8 is selected. Then, in step S008, the color conversion unit 86 performs color conversion from the RGB color to the CMYK color on the index bitmap whose bit has been reduced (the number of bits has been reduced).

In step S009, the enlargement scaling unit 88 enlarges the color-converted index bitmap based on the enlargement information (enlargement ratio) sent from the AP 81 to the printer driver 82 along with the index bitmap. I do.

In step S010, the second gradation changing unit 89 converts the bitmap processed by the computer C7 into a pseudo gradation bitmap that can be handled by the printer P7. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S014.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S007 that the AP 81 has designated to reduce the bitmap, the route R6 shown in FIG. 8 is selected. Then, in step S011, the reduction scaling unit 85 sets the AP8
From 1 based on the reduction information (reduction ratio) sent to the printer driver 82 along with the index bitmap,
Shrink the bit reduced index bitmap.

Subsequently, in step S012, the color conversion section 86 converts the reduced index bitmap into RGB.
Color conversion from color to CMYK color. Then, step S0
At 13, the first gradation changing unit 87 converts the bitmap processed by the computer C7 into a pseudo gradation bitmap that can be handled by the printer P7. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S014.

Processing in step S010 or step S0
When the process of No. 13 ends, in step S014, the bitmap developing unit 90 develops the pseudo gradation index bitmap in a memory (not shown) as a printing bitmap.

Then, in step S015, the bitmap developed in the memory is output (printed) on printing paper. As described above, when the 256-bit index bitmap can be represented by a small number of colors (for example, two colors or 16 colors), the index bitmap can be represented by a small data amount. Thus, the amount of data transferred from the computer C7 to the printer P7 can be reduced without deteriorating the data.

Accordingly, the transfer data amount can be efficiently reduced, and the printing speed can be increased. In the present embodiment, the number of bits of the pallet number part PN is reduced by changing the index bitmap of 256 colors into a binary or quaternary index bitmap. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Any processing may be performed as long as the number of bits in the bitmap can be reduced.

Eighth Embodiment FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a printing system according to an eighth embodiment. In the printing system of the eighth embodiment, based on the amount of data transferred from the computer to the print, it is selected whether to perform pseudo gradation processing on the computer side or pseudo gradation processing on the printer side.

This printing system includes a computer C8 for generating a full color bitmap and an index color bitmap as print data, and a printer P8 for printing a bitmap developed in a memory.

The computer C8 has application software (AP) 91 and
A printer driver 92 is installed. The printer driver 92 includes a scaling unit 97, a transfer data amount determination unit 93, a resolution conversion unit 94, and a color conversion unit 95.
And a first gradation conversion unit 56.

The scaling section 97 scales the size of the original print data to the size to be printed by the printer P8 according to the scaling information (scaling ratio) sent with the original print data.

The transfer data determination unit 93 uses a weighting coefficient (described later) calculated based on the printing performance to transfer data from the computer C8 to the printer P8 when the computer C8 performs pseudo gradation processing. And the computer C for performing pseudo gradation processing on the printer P8 side
8 and the data amount transferred to the printer P8. This printing performance is determined by the computer C8 and printer P8.
It changes due to a difference in performance of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) between them, and an overhead of an OS (Operating System) in the computer C8. Further, the transfer data determination unit 93
Are compared between the two transfer data amounts calculated, and the computer C8 performs pseudo gradation processing, and the printer P
In the case where the pseudo gradation processing is performed on the side 8, it is determined in which case the transfer data amount is reduced. When the pseudo-gradation processing is performed on the computer C8 side, when the transfer data decreases, the transfer data determination unit 93 selects the route R8. On the other hand, if the transfer data decreases when the pseudo gradation processing is performed on the printer P8 side, the transfer data determination unit 93
Selects route R9.

[0146] The resolution conversion unit 94 sets the route R8
Convert the resolution of the original image to the print resolution. Color converter 95
Converts the RGB color bitmap into the CMYK color bitmap for the routes R8 and R9.

The first gradation conversion section 96 is a bit map that selects the route R8, that is, a bit map that can reduce the transfer data amount by performing the pseudo gradation processing on the computer C8 side rather than the printer P8 side. Is converted into a gradation number corresponding to the printer P8.

By the way, the printer P8 has the second gradation conversion section 9
8 and a bitmap developing unit 99. The second gradation conversion unit 98 converts the bitmap in which the route R9 is selected, that is, the bitmap in which the transfer data amount can be reduced by performing the pseudo gradation processing on the printer P8 side than on the computer C8 side. P8 converts to the corresponding number of gradations.

The bitmap developing section 99 develops a printing bitmap in a memory (not shown) based on the pseudo gradation bitmap. Next, weighting factors used in the printing system of the eighth embodiment will be described. This weight coefficient is calculated as follows.

First, when all the processing (color conversion processing, scaling processing, gradation conversion processing) is performed on the printer driver 92 side, and when scaling processing and gradation conversion processing are performed on the printer P8 side, Computer C
The CPU performance of the computer C8 and the CPU performance of the printer P8 when the amounts of data transferred from the printer 8 to the printer P8 match are actually measured.

Then, the measured C of the computer C8 is used.
All processing (color conversion processing, scaling processing, gradation conversion processing) on the printer driver 92 side based on PU performance
Is performed, and when the scaling process and the gradation conversion process are performed on the printer P8 side, the theoretical CPU performance when the data transfer amounts match is calculated. This theoretical CPU performance is held in advance as printer driver information.

Thereafter, the CPU performance of the computer C8 when the printer driver 92 is installed is measured, and a weight coefficient is calculated from the ratio between the CPU performance and the calculated theoretical CPU performance.

Next, processing for calculating a weighting coefficient used in the printing system of the eighth embodiment will be described.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating the calculation processing of the weighting coefficient.

First, when the installation of the printer driver 92 into the computer C8 is started, the printer driver 92 is installed in the computer C8 (S00
1). Then, in step S102, it is confirmed whether the printing performance is measured or not.

When measuring the printing performance, step S10
In 3, the printing performance is measured for each printing condition. The printing conditions include the number of gradations (2 values / 4 values / 8 values, etc.), printing colors (monochrome (K) / color (CMY) / color (CMYK), etc.), and the number of colors of the original image (2 colors / 16 Color / 256 colors ... 24-bit full color / 32-bit full color, etc.) and a scaling rate (X / Y scaling rate).

In step S104, it is determined whether the printing performance has been measured for all the printing conditions. If the measurement has not been completed, the process proceeds to step S
Returned to 103. Then, when the measurement is completed, the process proceeds to Step S105.

In step S105, the comparison printing performance measured in advance for the comparison printer is compared with the actually measured printing performance measured for each printing condition in step S103.

Subsequently, in step S106, by comparing the printing performance for comparison with the printing performance for actual measurement,
A weighting coefficient for each printing condition is calculated. Then, in step S108, the calculated weighting coefficient is registered in the computer C8 as management information.

On the other hand, if the printing performance is not measured, step S
When it is confirmed in step 102, the weighting coefficient is set to "1" in step S107. After that, in step S108, the set weighting coefficient is registered in the computer C8 as management information.

Thus, the printer driver 92
Is installed on the computer C8.

Now, a description will be given of a process of determining the amount of transfer data using the weighting factors registered as described above.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the printing process. First, when the printing process starts, step S20
In step 1, from among the weighting factors registered for each printing condition, a weighting factor corresponding to the designated printing condition is read.

In step S202, the data amount of the original image is calculated by the following equation (1). Data amount of original image = X size of original image × Y size × number of output bytes per pixel (1) In this equation (1), “the number of output bytes per pixel” is
It shows the number of output bytes per pixel when an original image is output to a printer.

In this case, when the number of bits per pixel of the original image is 1 bit (2 colors) / 4 bits (16 colors) / 8 bits (256 colors), the number of output bytes per pixel = per pixel Number of bits / 8
Indicated by a bit.

The number of bits per pixel of the original image is 16 bits / 24 bits / 32 bits (full color)
When, the number of output bytes per pixel = the number of output colors (monochrome: 1 / YMC color:
3 / YMCK color: Indicated by 4).

Step S203 after step S202
In Equation (2), the data amount of the pseudo gradation image is
It is calculated by Data amount of pseudo-gradation image = X size according to print resolution x Y size x number of output bytes per pixel x weighting factor ... (2) In this equation (2), "the number of output bytes per pixel" is ,
This shows the number of output bytes per pixel when a pseudo gradation image is output to a printer.

In this case, the number of output bytes per pixel is represented by the following expression: number of output bytes per pixel = number of output pseudo gradations (1 to 4 bits) × number of output colors.

In step S204, it is determined whether the data amount of the original image or the data amount of the pseudo gradation image is larger. When the data amount of the original image is equal to or larger than the data amount of the pseudo gradation image, in step S205, the resolution conversion unit 94 converts the resolution of the original image into a print resolution.

Subsequently, in step S206, the color conversion section 95 converts the resolution-converted original print data into RGB data.
The color conversion processing from the color to the YMCK color is performed. At this time, the color conversion processing is RGB → K / RGB → YMC / RGB → Y
Performed like MCK.

Then, in step S207, the first
The gradation conversion section 96 performs pseudo gradation processing on the color-converted print data to generate pseudo gradation data. afterwards,
In step S208, the pseudo gradation data is transferred to the printer P8.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S204 that the data amount of the original image is smaller than the data amount of the pseudo gradation image, in step S209, the color conversion unit 95 sets the A
RGB for the original print data generated by P91
The color conversion processing from the color to the YMCK color is performed.

Then, in step S210, the color-converted original print data is transferred to the printer P8.
Subsequently, in step S211, the second gradation conversion unit 9
Numeral 8 performs pseudo gradation processing on the color-converted print data to generate pseudo gradation data.

Thereafter, step S208 or step S208
When the process of 211 is completed, printing is executed in step S212. Then, the printing process ends. As described above, the data amount of the original image is compared with the data amount of the pseudo image, and a small amount of data is transmitted from the computer C8 to the printer P8.
Transfer to

Accordingly, the transfer data amount can be efficiently reduced, and the printing speed can be increased. Note that other examples can be incorporated in the present embodiment. For example, the enlargement / reduction determining unit 53 of the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 6 can be incorporated in the present embodiment.
With this configuration, the transfer data amount can be further reduced, so that the printing speed can be further increased.

[0175]

As described above, according to the printing system of the present invention, the amount of data transferred from the computer to the printer can be efficiently reduced, so that the printing speed can be increased.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a printing system according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a printing system according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an index bitmap.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a printing system according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a printing system according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a printing system according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a printing system according to a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a printing system according to a seventh embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a bit reduction process.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a printing process performed by a printing system according to a seventh embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a printing system according to an eighth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a weighting coefficient calculation process according to an eighth embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a weighting coefficient calculation process according to an eighth embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a conventional printing system.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a conventional printing system.

[Explanation of symbols]

11, 21, 31, 41, 51, 61, 81, 91 A
P 12, 22, 32, 42, 52, 62, 82, 92 Printer drivers 13, 33, compression / scaling units 23, 44, 66 Scaling units 54, 85 Reduction scaling units 57, 88 Enlargement scaling units 14, 26, 36 , 47, 55, 69, 86, 95 Color conversion units 15, 37, 48, restoration units 16, 27, 38, 49, 56, 58, 70, 72, 8
7, 89, 96, 98 Tone conversion unit 17, 28, 39, 50, 59, 73, 90, 99 Bitmap development unit 24, 34, 45, 67 Color reduction unit 25, 35, 46, 68 Index creation unit 43 , 64 Printing method setting unit 53, 65, 84 Enlargement / reduction determination unit 71 Restoration enlargement unit 83 Bit reduction unit 93 Transfer data amount determination unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Yasushi Tsuchiya 2-4-1-19 Shin-Yokohama, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Fujitsu Program Giken (72) Inventor Kenichi Oishi 2-chome, Shin-Yokohama, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa No. 4-19 Inside Fujitsu Program Giken Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Ikumi Arai 2-4-1 Shinkohama, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Fujitsu Program Giken Co., Ltd. (72) Koji Maeda, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture 4-1-1 Odanaka Fujitsu Limited (72) Inventor Masayuki Horii 4-1-1 Kamikadanaka Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture Fujitsu Limited (72) Takahiko Aoki Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture 4-1-1 Kamiodanaka Inside Fujitsu Limited (72) Inventor Jun Yoshimura Nakahara, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture Fujitsu Limited (72) Ueodanaka 4-1-1, Fujitsu Limited (72) Inventor Hiroki Ishihara 4-1-1, Kamidadanaka, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture Fujitsu Limited (72) Inventor Keizo Ueno Nakahara, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Fujitsu Limited (72) 4-1-1 Kamikadanaka Ward, Fujitsu Limited (72) Inventor Eiichi Ebihara 4-1-1, Kamikadanaka Nakagawa-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture Fujitsu Limited (72) Kazuhiro Tamada Nakahara, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture Fujitsu Limited (72) 4-1-1 Kamikadanaka-ku, Fujitsu, Japan Inventor Akihisa Soda 4-1-1, Kamikadanaka, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture Fujitsu Limited (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Kanada Nakahara, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture 4-1-1, Kamikodanaka-ku, Fujitsu Co., Ltd. (72) The inventor Moriyoshi Nakamura 4-1-1, Kamikadanaka, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture Fujitsu Co., Ltd. (72) The inventor Jun Shio Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture Fujitsu Stock Company, 4-1-1, Kamiodanaka, Nakahara-ku, Yokohama In-house (72) Inventor Hiroshi Oshio 4-1-1, Kamiodanaka, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Fujitsu Limited

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. A print control system comprising: an information processing device for generating print data; and a printing device for printing print data transferred from the information processing device, wherein the information processing device is configured to generate the print data. A compression unit configured to compress the generated print data based on compression information set for the data; the printing apparatus includes a restoration unit configured to restore the compressed print data based on the compression information; And a print control system. 2. A print control system comprising: an information processing device for generating print data of a plurality of colors; and a printing device for printing print data transferred from the information processing device, wherein the information processing device is A print control system comprising a color reduction unit for thinning out the number of colors included in the generated print data. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: compression means for compressing the generated print data based on compression information set for the generated print data. 3. The print control system according to claim 2, further comprising a restoration unit that restores print data based on the compression ratio information. 4. A print control system comprising: an information processing device for generating print data of a plurality of colors; and a printing device for printing print data transferred from the information processing device, wherein the information processing device is Compression means for performing compression processing for compressing the generated print data based on compression information set for the generated print data; and color reduction processing for reducing the number of colors included in the generated print data. And a selection unit that selects whether to perform the compression process or the color reduction process on the generated print data based on the input selection signal. And a restoring unit for restoring the generated print data based on the compression information. 5. The print control system according to claim 4, wherein said information processing apparatus includes a high-speed print selecting means for performing said compression processing or said color reduction processing when high-speed printing is requested. . 6. An information processing apparatus for generating print data and scaling information relating to a change in size of the print data, and a print control system for printing print data transferred from the information processing apparatus, wherein the information processing apparatus comprises: The scaling information includes a scaling unit that performs a scaling determination process for determining whether to indicate the enlargement or reduction of the print data. When the scaling information indicates reduction of the print data, the scaling information includes Reducing means for reducing the size of the print data based on the print data, wherein the printing device expands the size of the print data based on the scaling information when the scaling information indicates expansion of the print data. A print control system comprising: 7. The print control system according to claim 6, wherein the information processing apparatus includes a high quality print selection unit that performs the enlargement / reduction determination process when a high quality print is requested. . 8. A print control system comprising: an information processing apparatus for generating print data represented by color numbers corresponding to a plurality of colors; and a printing apparatus for printing print data transferred from the information processing apparatus. Wherein the information processing apparatus further comprises a color number changing means for reassigning the same color number to the plurality of color numbers indicating the same color when the plurality of color numbers indicate the same color in the plurality of colors. Control system. 9. A recording control device comprising: an information processing device for generating print data; and a printing device for printing print data generated by the information processing device, wherein the information processing device is configured to generate the print data. Data amount determining means for comparing the data amount of the data with the data amount of the pseudo print data converted to a gradation that can be printed by the printing apparatus; and the data amount of the pseudo print data is smaller than the data amount of the generated print data. When it is determined by the data amount determination unit that the number is small, the pseudo print data obtained by converting the gradation of the generated print data is output, and when the data amount of the pseudo print data is larger than the data amount of the generated print data. An output unit configured to output the generated print data when the data amount is determined by the data amount determination unit. 10. A print control method for printing, by a printing device, print data generated by an information processing device, the print data being generated based on compression information set for the generated print data. A print control method comprising: a compression step of compressing the print data; a transfer step of transferring the compressed print data from the information processing apparatus to the printing apparatus; and a restoration step of restoring the transferred print data based on the compression information. . 11. A print control method for printing, by a printing apparatus, print data composed of a plurality of colors generated by an information processing apparatus, comprising: a color reduction step of thinning out the number of colors included in the generated print data; And a transfer step of transferring the print data from the information processing apparatus to the printing apparatus. 12. A compression step of compressing the generated print data based on compression information set for the generated print data, and restoring the transferred print data based on the compression ratio information. 3. The printing control system according to claim 2, comprising a restoring step. 13. A print control method for printing, by a printing apparatus, print data composed of a plurality of colors generated by an information processing apparatus, the print control method comprising: A compression step of compressing the generated print data; a color reduction step of thinning out the number of colors included in the generated print data; and, based on the input selection signal, the generated print data in the compression step. Selecting means for selecting one of compression and thinning out of colors included in the generated print data; and a restoring step of restoring the compressed print data based on the compression information. A printing control method characterized by the following. 14. High-speed printing in which, when high-speed printing is requested, the generated print data is compressed in the compression step, and / or thinning out of colors included in the generated print data is selected. 14. The print control method according to claim 13, comprising a step. 15. A print control method for printing print data by a printing device based on print data generated by an information processing device and scaling information relating to a change in size of the print data, wherein the scaling information includes: An enlargement / reduction determination step of determining whether to indicate enlargement or reduction of print data; and a reduction step of reducing the size of the print data based on the scaling information when the scaling information indicates reduction of the print data. A reduced information transfer step of transferring reduced print data from the information processing apparatus to the printing apparatus; and when the scaling information indicates enlargement of the print data, the generated original print data is transferred from the information processing apparatus to the printing apparatus. An original information transfer step of transferring the original print data to the printing apparatus; An enlargement step of enlarging the size of the print data based on information. 16. The method according to claim 15, wherein when high quality printing is requested, the scaling information determines whether the scaling information indicates enlargement or reduction of the print data. Printing control method. 17. A print control method for printing, by a printing apparatus, print data represented by color numbers corresponding to a plurality of colors generated by an information processing apparatus, wherein the plurality of color numbers are the same color in the plurality of colors. A color number changing step of renumbering the plurality of color numbers indicating the same color with the same color number. 18. A print control method for printing print data generated by an information processing device by a printing device, wherein the data amount of the generated original print data is converted into a printable gradation by the printing device. A data amount determining step of comparing the data amount of the pseudo print data; and, when it is determined in the data amount determining step that the data amount of the pseudo print data is larger than the data amount of the generated print data, An original data transfer step of transferring the generated print data from the information processing apparatus to the printing apparatus; and when it is determined in the data amount determination step that the data amount of the pseudo print data is smaller than the data amount of the generated print data. A pseudo print data transfer step of transferring the converted print data from the information processing apparatus to the printing apparatus;
A printing control method, comprising: